Ludington Monarch Roosts

   Hundreds of migrating Monarch Butterflies spent last night roosting near the south breakwater of Ludington Harbor.  I got out there early this morning a found and couple of roosts of 50+.

Line forming for this Loosestrife stalks's last bloom

This roost had more than 50 Monarchs

Cropped view of previous photo

   The roost in the photos below contained over 100 Monarchs but they were spread out over a larger area.

There are more than 60 in this photo

Cropped view of roost in previous photo

Coming in for a landing

Baird's Sandpiper, Ludington Harbor 9/1/2015

  Yesterday morning after work I birded the south breakwater at Ludington.  Among the dozen or so shorebirds (mostly Sanderlings) was a Baird's Sandpiper.

Baird's Sandpiper

Baird's in flight

 

Sunrise over Mason County Courthouse

  Here are three consecutive photos of a Sanderling taken in a span of half a second. Looks like a pretty efficient way to wash up in the morning.

                     

Unspotted Spotted Sandpiper

   As I was walking back in from the breakwater I noticed about two dozen Monarch Butterflies taking flight off of their overnight roosts.  Though it was a relatively warm morning it was very humid and I found a roost that still had almost 20 Monarchs that were still on the roost trying to shake of the dew.
                               

Monarch roost

Monarch Egg



    On Wednesday May 2 I saw my first two Monarch Butterflies of the year, one during my lunch break at work and the second flying high over my yard after I got home.  That is definitely the earliest date I've ever seen them in Southeast Michigan. Those butterflies perhaps the second or third generation offspring of last autumn's Monarchs that migrated to and overwintered in Mexico.  The monarchs of spring and early summer are here for one reason.  Reproduce.  

     Today I inspected my 8" high Swamp Milkweed sprouts and found four freshly laid eggs.  After checking all the plants for eggs I noticed a female Monarch flying low over the milkweed patch.  I left her to do her duty.  A couple of hours later I rechecked the plants and I found 37 eggs.  Below are photos of one of the eggs which in a few days will hatch and begin the two week larval stage of its life. 

  Checking my old records the previous early date for finding monarch eggs in the yard was May 22, 2001.